McCord Park Sundial

McCord Park is the second planned green space in the Watson Road development, and like the Watson Road Bird Preserve, was platted from the beginning. It was originally called Watson Park, after the owner of the development, Watson Hasselman. The name was changed to McCord Park in 1970, in memory of Robert McCord, who lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years and took care of the park while he was a resident. The current landscape plan was put into place more than ten years ago, including the sundial in the middle, which honors the organizations that made it possible. The sundial also commemorates William Whitfield, the first black Indianapolis police officer to be killed in the line of duty. He was shot on 36th Street near College Avenue in 1922 and and died a few months later from the wound.